Health

CARROLLTON, Ga. -- The new pink treadmills at the University of West Georgia's Campus Center are hard to miss -- which is good, because they're there for an important reason.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Cybex International will donate 10 cents to breast cancer research for every mile logged on the treadmills.

"Although the positive effects of exercise have long been known to reduce obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, less well known is that exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer," said Paul Juris, executive director of the CYBEX Institute.

CARROLLTON, Ga. -- The University of West Georgia's School of Nursing and Pre-K program have received a donation totaling $101,000 from the executive director of the UWG Foundation.

Jim Naughton gave $80,000 to the School of Nursing, citing "the outstanding education that students receive when they go through the program." He designated $50,000 of the funds for student scholarships to provide assistance to those who are struggling with recent tuition and fee increases, with the remainder going to the school's fund for program support.

"This gift provides an opportunity for financially struggling students who would otherwise have to drop out," said Dr.

The initiative introduces a new consumer-directed wellness plan, improves plan administration, eliminates the SHBP's projected deficit for this year and substantially reduces future deficits.

"The board is pleased to endorse this thoughtful and responsible plan that is not afraid to tackle the big issues," said DCH board chairman Ross Mason. "This is a forward-looking plan that provides real bottom line-driven solutions."

SHBP is facing a projected deficit of slightly more than $800 million during the next two years.

"Our major concern is the continued delivery of quality health care services at an affordable cost," said DCH commissioner David Cook.

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Board of Regents is raising health insurance premiums for employees and cutting coverage for about 700 workers.

The board voted Tuesday to hike rates by 5.2 percent. The university system will save $30 million by limiting access to certain doctors and hospitals.

University system workers, like all state employees, received no pay increase this year.

The board also voted to cut insurance for about 700 part-time employees by raising the minimum number of hours they have to work to qualify for coverage from 20 to 30 per week. The change will save about $1.5 million.

This is the first time since 2008 that insurance premiums have increased.

DECATUR, Ga. -- An analysis of autopsies by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has found a 10 percent increase in the number of prescription overdose deaths in 2010 compared to 2009.

The analysis shows that the number of drug overdose deaths involving only prescription drugs jumped from 508 in 2009 to 560 in 2010. It also showed that 68 other deaths were attributed to a combination of prescription and illicit drugs.

In all, there were 729 drug overdose deaths in 2010. Most of those deaths were found to be accidental, but about nine percent were determined to be suicides.

The analysis of the GBI Medical Examiner's drug overdose autopsies involves 152 counties. The study does not include several Metro Atlanta counties, including Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett and DeKalb.

America Is Your Park campaign urges families to get out, discover fun ways to get active in the park while helping their favorite park win big

ATLANTA, July 10, 2011 – If you’re reading this, you should get to your favorite park – STAT! Coca-Cola is calling all families to go out and play this summer as part of the second annual America Is Your Park campaign.